often attributive
1
a
: a usually circular line encompassing an area
a swamp about 10 miles in circuit
b
: the space enclosed within such a line
the circuit of the duke's land
2
a
: a course around a periphery
the periodic circuit of the Earth around the Sun
b
: a circuitous or indirect route
The damaged bridge forced him to take a long circuit to his destination.
3
a
: a regular tour (as by a traveling judge or preacher) around an assigned district or territory
The preacher ministered to each congregation in his circuit.
b
: the route traveled
His circuit took him to many towns in the county.
c
: a group of church congregations ministered to by one pastor
4
a
: the complete path of an electric current including usually the source of electric energy
b
: an assemblage of electronic elements : hookup
c
: a two-way communication path between points (as in a computer)
d
: a neuronal pathway of the brain along which electrical and chemical signals travel
5
a
: an association of similar groups : league
b
: a number or series of public outlets (such as theaters, radio shows, or arenas) offering the same kind of presentation
He loved competing on the rodeo circuit.
She rose through the theater circuit to become a big-time entertainer.
c
: a number of similar social gatherings
the cocktail circuit
circuited; circuiting; circuits
: to make a circuit about
a route that circuits the Back Bay section of the city
: to make a circuit
Potential buyers circuited around the boatyard.
Synonyms
Examples of circuit in a Sentence
Noun
It takes a year for the Earth to make one circuit around the sun.
Verb
after circuiting the exterior of the church, the procession headed inside
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 18 Apr. 2024
In July 2023, when Robbie and her golden mane took off on the global Barbie press circuit, Schwartz told E!
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Scheffler will have a chance for more glory when the men’s major circuit heads to Kentucky’s Valhalla Golf Club next month for the PGA Championship, won for the third time by Brooks Koepka last year.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
But at first blush, Flatrock already appears more fun and challenging than many big-league tracks in America or even Europe, including more than a few highly regarded Tilke circuits.
—Sam Smith, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2024
In these systems, circuit components called neurons—analogous to neurons in the human brain—are fed data and cooperate to solve a problem, such as recognizing faces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 12 Apr. 2024
The film, which is already garnering critical acclaim from its festival circuit appearances, will premiere in theaters May 24, and will then be released on Netflix on June 7.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Immersive multimedia presentations are all the rage among large companies and commercial art circuits.
—James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Freedman noted that the B’s, which will play in the Pioneer League, separate from the major-league circuit of baseball talent, will not fill the void left behind when the A’s eventually leave.
—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2011
Republicans countered that the bill would short-circuit a deliberative process.
—Azi Paybarah, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Dec. 2022
Hundreds of players came and went, from Grand Slam champions to circuit short-timers.
—Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2022
Damage to the pons can short-circuit its ability to paralyze the sleeping body.
—Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 10 May 2022
These are tested and wrapped in plastic packages to connect them to circuit boards or parts of a system.
—New York Times, 8 Apr. 2022
The awards circuit moves from movies to music, with the airing of the 64th Grammy Awards.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2022
Do this circuit a total of 4 times to get a full abs workout in 10 minutes.
—Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 24 Jan. 2022
The administration said the court could short-circuit the usual process and rule on the law's constitutionality this term, even though lower courts have yet to do so.
—Compiled Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2021
Noun
After a hectic and successful awards season, Gladstone is back on the press circuit to promote Under the Bridge, which is already generating Emmy buzz for her and costar Riley Keough.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 18 Apr. 2024
In July 2023, when Robbie and her golden mane took off on the global Barbie press circuit, Schwartz told E!
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Scheffler will have a chance for more glory when the men’s major circuit heads to Kentucky’s Valhalla Golf Club next month for the PGA Championship, won for the third time by Brooks Koepka last year.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
But at first blush, Flatrock already appears more fun and challenging than many big-league tracks in America or even Europe, including more than a few highly regarded Tilke circuits.
—Sam Smith, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2024
In these systems, circuit components called neurons—analogous to neurons in the human brain—are fed data and cooperate to solve a problem, such as recognizing faces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 12 Apr. 2024
The film, which is already garnering critical acclaim from its festival circuit appearances, will premiere in theaters May 24, and will then be released on Netflix on June 7.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Immersive multimedia presentations are all the rage among large companies and commercial art circuits.
—James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Freedman noted that the B’s, which will play in the Pioneer League, separate from the major-league circuit of baseball talent, will not fill the void left behind when the A’s eventually leave.
—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
History shows that, inbuilt though that capacity may be, ideas can short-circuit it.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2011
Republicans countered that the bill would short-circuit a deliberative process.
—Azi Paybarah, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Dec. 2022
Hundreds of players came and went, from Grand Slam champions to circuit short-timers.
—Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2022
Damage to the pons can short-circuit its ability to paralyze the sleeping body.
—Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 10 May 2022
These are tested and wrapped in plastic packages to connect them to circuit boards or parts of a system.
—New York Times, 8 Apr. 2022
The awards circuit moves from movies to music, with the airing of the 64th Grammy Awards.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2022
Do this circuit a total of 4 times to get a full abs workout in 10 minutes.
—Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 24 Jan. 2022
The administration said the court could short-circuit the usual process and rule on the law's constitutionality this term, even though lower courts have yet to do so.
—Compiled Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'circuit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near circuit
Cite this Entry
“Circuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circuit. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
circuit
noun
cir·cuit
ˈsər-kət 
1
: the complete path of an electric current including usually the source of electric energy
2
: a neuronal pathway of the brain along which electrical and chemical signals travel
… the neurons in this brain circuit communicate using the chemical messenger dopamine.—Helen Fisher, The Wall Street Journal
Helen Fisher, The Wall Street JournalLegal Definition
circuit
noun
cir·cuit
1
a
: a route formerly taken by traveling judges
b
: a district established within a state or the federal judicial system
2
capitalized
: the court of appeals for a circuit in the federal judicial system
after the 9th Circuit's ruling—V. M. Sher
V. M. SherLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share